Tasman vs Wellington (RS)

[Chris B.]

@Duluth The last item on my rugby bucket-list has already been ticked off!

A nice-to-have if we beat Wellington, but I won't be surprised or distraught if we don't.

[Canes4life]

Having won the Shield recently it would be nice to get it back but I wouldn't be distraught if we didn't get it. I'd prefer we won another championship over the Shield this year if I had to choose.

[Chris B.]

@Canes4life Frankly, me too!

The NPC is much harder to win than the Shield (assuming you actually get given a few challenges) - Chris B. consults his list of teams that have never won the NPC for the purposes of severe mockery!

Winning this game will be a useful step towards winning the NPC though.

[Canes4life]

@Chris-B yeah I feel like finishing top this year is more important than ever with how close some of the top teams are.

[Dan54]

I would say I a neutral, but Ta$man need to win this, Naki get a challenge then!!!
Mind you I was cheering for Hawkes Bay for same reason , and that didn't go well did it?

[Canes4life]

@Dan54 said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

I would say I a neutral, but Ta$man need to win this, Naki get a challenge then!!!
Mind you I was cheering for Hawkes Bay for same reason , and that didn't go well did it?

Both Bays will be backing Wellington, with Bay of Plenty getting the first challenge if Welly can win it, followed by Hawke's Bay (again).

[Dan54]

Tell you what if it as good as last weeks game will be good.

[Canes4life]

@Dan54 if it's dry i'd say it will be a rip snorting Shield challenge. Excuse the pun.

[cgrant]

No way Lomax will be released for this game. He needs a rest after his unusual long period of time on the field against SA.

[Canes4life]

@cgrant said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

No way Lomax will be released for this game. He needs a rest after his unusual long period of time on the field against SA.

Yeah, it's highly unlikely all the ABs will be released, would be cool if they were though.

It will be interesting to see if any of the ABs are released. Maybe Havili for Ta$man and Proctor/Love for Wellington.

[Bovidae]

Hotham too.

[Chris]

Hotham,Havilli,Love and Procter to be released to play along with some others Bell,Tosi maybe Lord to other teams for this weekend is what I am hearing.

[Canes4life]

@Chris said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

Hotham,Havilli,Love and Procter to be released to play along with some others Bell,Tosi maybe Lord to other teams for this weekend is what I am hearing.

That's probably why Wellington have been slightly delayed naming their team for Otago tomorrow.

[Canes4life]

Based on the Otago selections I think the Lions team will be something like this. Not sure what way we'll go with some of the selections.

1. NUMIA
2. APISAI
3. LAUAKI
4. DELANY
5. PLUMMER
6. SHIELDS
7. LAKAI/HALALILO
8. LAKAI/ROPETI
9. PRESTON
10. GARDEN-BACHOP
11. PATAFILO/CLARKE
12. HIGGINS/UMAGA-JENSEN
13. B PROCTOR
14. CLARKE/SAVEA
15. LOVE
16. PRESS
17. KAMIMORI
18. SHECK
19. PAULO/IEREMIA
20. HALALILO/ROPETI
21. MURIWAI
22. HARKIN
23. HIGGINS/UMAGA-JENSEN/SAVEA

[KiwiMurph]

According to Stuff

Wellington have been bolstered by the availability of centre Billy Proctor and fullback Ruben Love for their Ranfurly Shield challenge against holders  Ta$man.

 Ta$man will be able to call on the services of midfielder David Havili for their first defence after stunning Hawke’s Bay with a last-second penalty kick last weekend to claim the Shield for the first time.

However, halfback Noah Hotham, has not been released despite his minimal involvement for the All Blacks.

[Machpants]

@KiwiMurph said in Ta$man vs Wellington (RS):

According to Stuff

Wellington have been bolstered by the availability of centre Billy Proctor and fullback Ruben Love for their Ranfurly Shield challenge against holders  Ta$man.

 Ta$man will be able to call on the services of midfielder David Havili for their first defence after stunning Hawke’s Bay with a last-second penalty kick last weekend to claim the Shield for the first time.

However, halfback Noah Hotham, has not been released despite his minimal involvement for the All Blacks.

So Welly get two positives, Ta$man a downer

[foobaNZ]

My guess:

NUMIA
APISAI
LAUAKI
DELANY
PLUMMER
SHIELDS
HALALILO
LAKAI
PRESTON
GARDEN-BACHOP (I really hope it's Harkin though).
PATAFILO
HIGGINS (can see them picking PUJ though, but it should be Higgins. PUJ has been good this year however).
B PROCTOR
SAVEA (Clarke unlucky).
LOVE

[Duluth]

1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Quentin Macdonald, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Quinten Strange (C), 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Tim Sail, 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Campbell Parata, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 12 David Havili, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15 Macca Springer

Reserves: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Monu Moli, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Johnny Lee, 21 Louie Chapman, 22 Will Butler, 23 Nic Sauira

[Chris B.]

Hmmm - even though Campbell Parata made that kick, Willie Havili is a huge loss. He's been having a great season and he's a significantly better player than Campbell.

Getting the other two Havilis back - Sione and Dave is a gain - but, Razor has gifted Wellington more - which I'm not that impressed about - even though we don't really need Hotham - we have two good halfbacks.

Really would have liked Max Hicks to be fit for this one.

[1kiwi]

Bit of a silly decision not to release Hotham really as he has had no game time for virtually a month. If he is suddenly thrown into the Bledisloe due to an injury then he's going to be under done.